Running a DC loco on DCC - longterm drawbacks?

2665 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Peter_Harvey, Jul 8, 2007

edzmen

Discussion Starter · Jul 7, 2007

Hi,

I've been having a bit of trouble with my Hornby NRM Flying Scotsman when running under chipped control on DCC. It doesn't run smoothly at all - the movement being very jerky during wheel revolution.

I thought it might be a problem with the rods or cogs being out of alignment and was considering stripping it down, but just to make sure I tried running it without the chip under DCC beforehand and it was smooth as a peach.

Thinking it might be a faulty decoder, I replaced the original (both Hornby) and tried again, with the same problem again occurring.

Will this happen with any decoder or could it purely be a Hornby decoder issue? Should i try another type? (I'm looking for mini decoders that don't require soldering).
Also is it detrimental to the health of the motor to run it as DC on DCC in the long-term? Could it fry the thing if a short occurred on the line, for example?

Thanks for any advice in advance!

Cheers,
Ed

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dwb

· #2 · Jul 7, 2007

QUOTE I'm looking for mini decoders that don't require soldering).
The Zimo MX63R is a pretty small decoder but it's in a different price league to the Hornby. You can check out the dimensions here on Zimo's website and buy them from DCC Supplies who advertise in the space at the top right corner of the screen. I've got an MX63R in the smoke box of my Bachmann 9F. As you can learn from Doug's review of the 9F last year, that's no mean feat.

David

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Hugh Williams

· #3 · Jul 7, 2007

May I suggest TCS MC2....I am running a batch of them on Hornby, Heljan and Bachmann as well as kit-built locos (DJH, Comet). They are insulated and come with different length harnesses fitted with NEM plugs. DCC Supplies, Bromsgrove Models, Digitrains are good sources. My Hornby Black 5's run superbly with them. The advantage with these decoders is that if one fails there is a goof-proof warranty which is attached to them (although there is something about registering the purchase with TCS - having said that Bromsgrove, correct me if I am wrong, would return the faulty unit [even if you have caused the damage])

regards,

Hugh Williams

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edzmen

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 7, 2007

QUOTE (Hugh Williams @ 7 Jul 2007, 18:06) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>May I suggest TCS MC2....I am running a batch of them on Hornby, Heljan and Bachmann as well as kit-built locos (DJH, Comet). They are insulated and come with different length harnesses fitted with NEM plugs.

Thanks for that - i'll give one a try. Which harness option do you need for the NEM plug to come fitted? The website gives the option of wires only or UK harness. Im not sure what they mean

Many thanks,
Ed

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Ozzie21

· #5 · Jul 7, 2007

G'day, you could try any brand decoder and it'll run better than that Hornby thing it came with. A Lenz Gold or Silver, ZImo, TCS, NCE even a Digitrax will work. To get some of these decoders to fit inside the body shell may require a little work to get them to fit.
As for running a DC loco under DCC conditions it is not good for the motor over the long term. A short test run is okay but anything longer will start doing damage to the motor magnets. I test a loco to destruction way back. I ran it for 1/2 an hour and the motor got very hot. I then left it sitting on a powered track for 2hrsand when I came back the motor was dead. So no I wouldn't reccomend it.

Ozzie21

QUOTE (edzmen @ 8 Jul 2007, 02:36) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi,

I've been having a bit of trouble with my Hornby NRM Flying Scotsman when running under chipped control on DCC. It doesn't run smoothly at all - the movement being very jerky during wheel revolution.

I thought it might be a problem with the rods or cogs being out of alignment and was considering stripping it down, but just to make sure I tried running it without the chip under DCC beforehand and it was smooth as a peach.

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Peter_Harvey

· #6 · Jul 8, 2007

I found all most the same thing with my class 121 and ended up changing the motor for a mashima motor and its now great.

The cause for it was over lubrication at the factory and the lubricant entering the motor and contaminating the brushes..

Pete

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